Ball Pythons Won't Eat

[bfirecat]

Hey Guys!

So I've been reading and researching for about 3 months before I finally got a pair of well started ball pythons, a pastel and a bumblebee!

They are beautiful snakes, however, they won't eat!

I got them about 4 weeks ago, and tried feeding them starting 3 weeks ago.
The breeder said they were feeding on live rat pups every 5-7 days or so.

I want to get them started on f/t, but they just won't take them.
I've tried f/t rat pups, rat pinkies, and even hopper mice.
I've tried scenting with tuna, warming them with hot water, headsplitting and still no go.
I've even tried feeding them rat pups, but they just won't take it.
I have even tried assist feeding today because I was feeling desperate, however, that was just stressful for me and the snakes because I thought I was going to hurt them. Of course they just spat the f/t stuff back out.

The temperatures are 91 on the warm side and ~76 on the cooler side.
Humidity is ~60 +-5.
They are in 32qt tubs with 2 hides each and a water bowl.

I've talked with the reputable breeder suggested moving them into a smaller enclosure, and I am setting up 15qt tubs for them right now. I don't handle them and try feeding every 5-7 days starting 3 weeks ago.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[Elite Morphs]

i am having the same problem i think they aint eating just because it is breeding season

[mbaker8686]

Did you allow for an adequate acclimation period? You will get mixed reviews on here, some say wait a week until you try to feed, some say to feed on your regular feeding day no matter how new they are.

Have you spoken to your breeder about past husbandry that he had other than tub size? Substrate? # of Hides? His temps?

Also what about how he was feeding? Out of tongs or placing the live into the tubs?

[Trochu]

Did you allow for an adequate acclimation period?

I've noticed more and more people are getting too impatient to even read the entire post.... He clearly stated he waited a week before feeding. Not trying to be a wank, but it was his third sentance in and it would appear you never even made it that far.

Anyways, to the issue at hand. Just a few thoughts that might work:
-Try feeding at night or in the evening;
-I feed F/T and the time between placement and striking is usually significantly reduced if I turn the light off and leave the room as opposed to sitting there watching (a note, they should be checked periodically if your leaving the room, I'm not suggesting you throw a prey item in the enclosure and leave for the night);
-If you trying F/T, ensure the food item is thawed and reheat it to around 100F, I use a hair dryer so the food item stays dry; and,
-I've read different color prey items might work, some pythons won't eat white mice for instance.

Good luck!

[kitedemon]

Well first off what were they eating before you got them and how old / large are they.

Ball pythons need some time to get adjusted generally I try not to mess with them for 7 day and will offer food if they seem interested if they don't I'll not offer and wait 7 more days and see what they are doing at that point. Personally all the snakes I have had all have eaten in 14 days from arrival.

Your cool side is a bit low what is the air temp?

Are you taking temps under the hides or else where?

[dr del]

Hi,

I would porobably keep feeding them live as the breeder did until they were well settled and feeding on a good routine for you - then try and convert them to F/T.


dr del

[bfirecat]

Thanks for all the replies.

I did forget to list that they are mid 2011's.

I am taking the temps under the hides, air temp is ~73ish.

I have tried feeding at night and feeding different colored rats.

I might just try feeding live like the breeder, do you have any suggestions on how to feed live rat pups? Can i leave the rat pup in there overnight? Or do I take it out after half an hour or so?

Thanks again!

[kitedemon]

73 is quite cool for ambient temps air temps should be ideally 78-85 I would suggest feeding the same as the breeder was and bump the ambient temps up a notch.

Snakes lung and the air temp inside it effects the snake's core temps greatly. There is some question if surface temps alone can over come cool ambient temps.

No keep an eye on the rat and provide it with food in the snakes enclosure.

[bfirecat]

What is a good way to bump the ambient temperature up?

Do i just add another heat pad? Or should I just move the snakes over to a smaller tub and have the hot spot heat pad cover more of the tank?

Thanks!

[mbaker8686]

Let me make sure and read the whole post 5 times so I have everything......ok good.

I use a contained oil space heater with a thermostat to raise ambient temps. You just have to be careful and recognize that the thermostats are not always accurate, so you should use a digital thermometer and try and figure out what setting will achieved your desired ambient temp.